R.I.P. Marvin Paige

The eightysomething casting director whose credits range from Breakfast At Tiffany’s and Combat! to Star Trek: The Motion Picture and General Hospital died today at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Marvin Paige was badly injured in a traffic collision on Laurel Canyon Boulevard last month and never recovered. His casting career spanned six decades and dozens of movies and TV shows, and he knew all of Hollywood’s veteran players and for many was their connection to the biz. Later in his career, Paige became an in-demand celebrity wrangler for Hollywood’s PR firms — organizing screenings, events and celebrations. “Marvin Paige was the go-to guy for wrangling iconic celebrities to be involved with major events,” said publicist Edward Lozzi, who announced Paige’s death. “Either the Academy Awards, Oscar parties, Turner Classic Movies with Robert Osborne — it’s who you called.” Lozzi said Paige was casting a film before his accident and had been working on The Eagle and Badge Gala honoring SAG-AFRTA President Ken Howard. “This is a big loss to the entire Hollywood community,” he said. Plans for a memorial service are pending.

21 Comments

Its Ed Lozzi. Please correct.
And, Marvin Paige was part of the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival for each of the festival’s 9 years. LA JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL is feeling his loss deeply. Marvin Paige was a one of a kind and no one can replace him.

memories • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

worked for him in the 80s. back then, not a nice man at all. at all. keeping it real, deadline. used to keep actors waiting in the lobby for hour just to read for him. and cheap beyond belief. had me remove stamps from mail so that he could re-use them with superglue… yes, that was part of my job.

Respect • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

Casting is a lost art and he was a real artist.

Alison • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

Truer words were never said, not to mention that Marvin was a mensch.

Regina and Ian Whitcomb • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

We’ll miss him — very much.

Brian Patrick Clarke • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

In counterpoint to the one completely snide, as well as disrespectful, comment about working with Marvin “in the 80s”, I will note that I was fortunate enough to have auditioned for and been cast by him (with Gloria Monty’s “stamp”, of course) in General Hospital in the early ’80s. He LOVED actors. Actors were his absolute passion. But he also expected actors to understand the sad fact that the business is often unkind to actors. “Can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Simple stark reality. Suck it up, deal with it and recognize that much of what happens in the industry is something other than “fair.”

RIP, Marvin. And thank you from a man who always considered you an enduring friend, long after we had last worked together.

What is unclear from this article is that Marvin did all that celebrity wrangling, and very often actual chauffeuring of old stars, for ZERO money and NO credit. Just to do it so that these veterans could be seen and HEARD. He was curmudgeonly at times for sure, but his ACTIONS were exemplary. If you called Marvin and asked a favor, Marvin DID IT, unlike so many others in this industry. For me personally, I was knocked out when he brought Stella Stevens and Evelyn Keyes to my sneak preview of FOOTPRINTS, and then a huge list, including Gone with the Wind’s Margaret Rutherford, to our official premiere at the Chinese. You were The Best, Marvin, and will be missed in a most profound way. Thank you for all you did for all of us.

Howard Green • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

Marvin was a class act, a gentleman, and always incredibly helpful in locating and delivering amazing talent for so many special evenings at the El Capitan Theater, Academy, etc. I’ll miss seeing his smiling face at Academy functions, and hearing his great war stories.

Brian Patrick Clarke • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

@Steven Peros: Thanks so much for pointing this out. Marvin was “quirky”, but he loved the HISTORY of our business and, as you so eloquently note, invested time, energy and money into ensuring that those who helped to WRITE that history did not simply “fade away”, undeservedly. Amen, Steven!

bruce garrick • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

Marvin was all about Hollywood. It is tragic to see him go this way. Cast me in GH as a young actor in the
late 70’s and been very instrumental for me crossing over as a producer present day. In fact we were working on several future films where he was the casting director.
Marvin was like a father to me and he is going to be greatly missed in my life.
Bruce Garrick

Patsy Whitecotton • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

To the person who said Marvin was not a nice, I disagree. I see you were not honest enough to post your name. Marvin was a character for sure but he was a good man. He cast me on General Hospital and helped so many actors and others in entertainment, in so many ways, to get a start in show business. A well known celebrity told me if they held a party for Marvin and only invited the people he helped get into show business there wouldn’t be a room big enough in all of L. A. to hold them. Thank you Marvin for being my casting director and my friend. I will miss you and you will live in my memories forever.

I loved Marvin!!!!!!!! Marvin cast me in a movie called C.H.O.M.P.S. which was screened at a comedy club on Sunset Blvd. just this last Saturday. I was reading the credits after the screening and sending him lots of love that night. ….BUT one thing I will forever love him for, was in the 1980’s when my mother had beaten cancer, Mavin would book her, a non-actress, as an extra on General Hospital so she could qualify for health insurance. Marvin did this for many years……. Marvin is the last of a dying breed. Individuals who’s unique personality and quirkiness helped shape our industry. I will miss him so.

Alan K. Rode • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

I worked closely with Marvin Paige for over a decade. He definitely had his quirks and less than admirable moments, but he always treated the older celebs with loving, respectful class worthy of the the best of the old studio system days. Marvin went out of his way to help many people who were no longer rich and famous or never had been. He was an authentic character who adhered to the old school code of not spreading malicious gossip and always remembering to be a gentleman at an event. His love of Hollywood history reflected by his voluminous motion picture and television archive along with his Rolodex of vintage stars was legendary . As someone else on this string already pointed out, Marvin received little to no money for much of what he did and really had to scrape by to make ends meet. He simply loved Hollywood and show business and built his life around it.
I’ll miss Marvin. There was nobody like him.

Marvin was a nice guy & went out of his way to help lots of people, for decades. He was the best at what he did & loved Hollywood more than any1 else. He will be missed – May he rest in peace. He was uniquely talented in working with talent & recognized, respected & loved talent when he saw it

helen granillo • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

I am not in the industry but living in LA you pretty much are. He would come in the vet. hospital were I worked. Always a snappy dresser and so pleasant to help. You could tell he was from the old school days by his class and demeanor. I enjoyed seeing him.

Margaret Barrett • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

RIP, Marvin. I’ll miss seeing you EVERYWHERE!

ROGER LOWE • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

PLEASE POST SERVICE .
MANY OF US WOULD WANT TO ATTEND. THANK YOU!

Monica McLaughlin-Neilson • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

Marvin was such a good friend and he was always helping people and doing positive things. he loved animals and was very caring of them. I shall miss him immensly and he will always be in my heart. love to you Marvin always.

Micki Sackler • on Nov 13, 2013 8:24 pm

Well said to all — but one. Alan, I know there were times … But as you said, he did so much for so many, and for so very little (if anything) except his love for the industry, it’s history, it’s stars and actors all but forgotten. Marvin was something special to me. I don’t know why he was so nice to me but he was and I loved that he could always make me laugh. When he could, if I asked, he got me into Academy receptions because he knew what an enthusiast I was. It was because of Marvin that I got to tell Keir Dullea about being an usher at the Westport Playhouse during the pre-Broadway summer stock run of Butterflies Are Free that he did with Blythe Danner, and how much I enjoyed those performances (besides his big screen outings like 2001: A Space Odyssey that the Academy was screening that night). It was also because of Marvin that I was at another reception when, bumping into Tom Hatten, I told him how I used to watch his weekly Family movie show and had long treasured a fuzzy, homemade VHS copy of Call Me Madam that I’d taped off his show, since it was never released VHS or DVD and had been off the air for ages. I told him that’s why I was so thrilled that Fox Movie Channel was going to re-premiere the film and that I wanted to invite him to my From the Vault screening at the Zanuck in advance of it’s return to television. It was a gorgeous, brand new print made from the original 3-strip negative. Tom couldn’t come but his friend asked if I’d like Donald O’Connor’s family to attend. He knew the man who had been Donald’s friend and musical conductor for the last 25+ years of his life. So Mrs. O’Connor was there, his children were there and his grandchildren were there. Most had never seen the film on a big screen or anywhere else for that matter as Irving Berlin in his late years decided no to re-license it. Well, that was a very special night. It might sound silly but seeing his family get so much joy from watching Donald that night was priceless. And being made an honorary O’Connor? I admit it, I was touched. Without Marvin? No reception, no chance meeting, no very special night. And that also happened with another of my From the Vault screenings. I’d met Patricia Ward Kelly through Marvin at yet another reception. He never hesitated to introduce me to anyone that came up to talk with him. So after my screening of a new print of What A Way To Go! Patricia did a Q&A about Gene and stayed afterwards to speak with every single person that wanted to just come say hello or ask her a question. That was also a very special night. I didn’t get to see Marvin much in the last few years but whenever I did run into him, he was always thoughtful and could still always make me laugh. I have him to thank for some very special nights that would never have happened had I not known him and if not for his generosity. Marvin, I will indeed miss you.

If anyone does hear about a public memorial or tribute, I hope I find out about it. He was absolutely one of a kind.

I have been working mostly in New York these past several years… and just learned of the passing of Marvin Paige. I was working as a talent manager in LA in the late 1980’s. Marvin cast me and several of my clients on General Hospital (some going on to later Industry success). Marvin was certainly quirky… and had his eye out for the cute boys. But he was (for the most part) kind, extremely helpful and a real storehouse of information on old Hollywood. His tiny home in The Valley was stacked floor to ceiling with an amazing archive of Hollywood memorabilia. In spite of what some may see as his human failings, Marvin was truly a gentleman and deeply dedicated to preserving Hollywood’s past as that past was being quickly bulldozed for “progress.” I have very fond memories of Marvin Paige. Michael David McGuire, New York – (212) 465-3205.